12 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

Does anyone here recall or know much about M.R. Tomlinson's MRT-Jaguars built supposedly in the early 1950s?  There's a little on the interweb about them, but I freely confess I had never heard of them until about two weeks ago. I am well aware of what one can Google on them right now - but does anyone have a contemporary printed or photographic reference to 'MRT-Jaguar'?

 

Just another quest to relieve any potential boredom...   

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 23 April 2021 - 08:16.

[RobertE]

Marreyt in Brussels have/had one for sale. I'd never heard of them either, and have never seen any as an entrant. I suppose the resemblance to the HWM-Jaguar might have led to some justifiable confusion at the time.

[arttidesco]

Lovely car, if I were in the market my opening gambit would be, registered with the DVLA as a 1964 MRT Special, now how about we get serious with some evidence of an earlier history ;-)

[Doug Nye]

Yes.  

 

That is the core of the problem.  I haven't found any published contemporary history.  

 

Yet.

 

DCN

[68targa]

Could it have been called something else when first built ?   This is from Oct 1953 Autosport. There is a strong resemblance.  Steed's J.A.G. was not Jaguar powered but could have been 'upgraded'  later on ? According to the Marreyt website the body was one of Richard Shattocks of which several would have been sold so I suppose this might be one of them.

 

Probably a scarlet herring but you get to see Mr Chapman as well !

 

[Doug Nye]

Thank you very much.  Yes the GRP bodies were from a mould taken off the early HWM-Jaguar's aluminium body.  Dick Shattock famously used two more or less matching panels, one reversed with fins added "to show which end it was meant to go", on his definitive RGS-Atalanta.  

 

But still no reference has yet surfaced to one M.R. Tomlinson, nor to the MRT-Jaguar title...

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

If the car raced at Prescott the B.O.C. archivist will know about it (if service can be provided under the current circumstances).

 

Alan Shattock has written a book:

 

https://www.troubado...s-atalantas-hb/

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 April 2021 - 15:51.

[Vitesse2]

While phone book records are by no means definitive - and there also seems to be some confusion over where the cars were built and/or the home of MR Tomlinson (Sutton Coldfield and/or Solihull) - there is an MR Tomlinson listed as living in Sutton Coldfield in the 1960s. However, I did also find a Dr MR Tomlinson in the early 1950s - but he lived in Leeds.

[68targa]

 

Alan Shattock has written a book:

 

https://www.troubado...s-atalantas-hb/

 

RGDS RLT 

Thanks for this info, I had no idea there was book about him.

[Rupertlt1]

Here is what looks to be another R.G.S.-bodied car from 1953. Said to be "Car Number 30, a Griffiths MG, Unknown driver, HRX 734 (registration)."

Event: BARC Fourteenth Members Meeting, 12 September 1953.

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

Who is the driver? Has anybody got the Goodwood book?

 

Looks uncannily similar to the J.A.G. of R. D. Steed above? (Consul-powered in 1953, later M.G.)

 

See: https://www.motorspo...-john-griffiths

 

Fibreglass was a novelty in 1953 - makes you wonder whether the MRT-Jaguar acquired the R.G.S. shell somewhat later?

 

RGDS RLT 
 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 April 2021 - 08:38.

[Rupertlt1]

Alan Shattock says:

 

"Hi Rupert. Good to hear from you.

The MRT (Tomlinson) Jaguar is featured in my book on pages 147 / 148 (I stupidly did not index the MRT bit in my index!); Reg BAC 705B (formerly another reg).

The Griffiths car in the two photos is likewise in my book, one of John Griffith J.A.G.s (Chassis number 8, HRX 734). It was built for John Steed. Bodies on this and the MRT are the RGS standard fibreglass body).

21 JAGs were built by John, mostly at my father's works near Ascot."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 April 2021 - 13:45.

[dgs]

Here is what looks to be another R.G.S.-bodied car from 1953. Said to be "Car Number 30, a Griffiths MG, Unknown driver, HRX 734 (registration)."

Event: BARC Fourteenth Members Meeting, 12 September 1953.

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

Who is the driver? Has anybody got the Goodwood book?

 

Looks uncannily similar to the J.A.G. of R. D. Steed above? (Consul-powered in 1953, later M.G.)

 

See: https://www.motorspo...-john-griffiths

 

Fibreglass was a novelty in 1953 - makes you wonder whether the MRT-Jaguar acquired the R.G.S. shell somewhat later?

 

RGDS RLT 
 

 

Here is what looks to be another R.G.S.-bodied car from 1953. Said to be "Car Number 30, a Griffiths MG, Unknown driver, HRX 734 (registration)."

Event: BARC Fourteenth Members Meeting, 12 September 1953.

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

Who is the driver? Has anybody got the Goodwood book?

 

Looks uncannily similar to the J.A.G. of R. D. Steed above? (Consul-powered in 1953, later M.G.)

 

See: https://www.motorspo...-john-griffiths

 

Fibreglass was a novelty in 1953 - makes you wonder whether the MRT-Jaguar acquired the R.G.S. shell somewhat later?

 

RGDS RLT 
 

I have both original Goodwood book, and details from 2nd edition.  Original book =

 

Event 9 HANDICAP Race (D)  5 laps.

No 30 Dick Steed  JAG Consul (HRX734) 1498cc,  0.54" handicap, result 5 laps, 11'26.4"

Footnote reads "Finishing order is uncertain as it seems that No 21 was re-handicapped and no time is recorded for no 28 which was classified 3rd.

Updated edition has following difference.

No 30 Dick Steed  JAG MG (8 HRX 734). All other details as above 

[nicanary]

If this is any use, there's a period photo at the end of the post.

 

https://www.autopuzz...6997/#msg176997